January 23, 2008
NEW YORK MAN INDICTED FOR DRUG ROBBERY AND
USE OF A FIREARM RESULTING IN MURDER
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Roger Aletras, 35, of the Bronx, New York has been charged by a federal grand jury in Burlington, Vermont in a five-count indictment with the following offenses:
Count 1: possession with intent to distribute marijuana;
Count 2: conspiracy to affect commerce by traveling from New York to Vermont to commit armed robbery, stealing a motor vehicle and drugs;
Count 3: the use of a firearm during and in relation to (1) a drug trafficking crime, namely, possession with intent to distribute marijuana as alleged in Count 1 of the indictment, and (2) a crime of violence, that is, conspiracy to commit armed robbery affecting commerce as alleged in Count 2 of the indictment;
Count 4: the use of a firearm during and in relation to crime of violence, as alleged in Count 3, and during the course of that offense causing the death of a person, Kevin Arkeneau, through the use of a firearm, which killing was murder as defined under federal law;
Count 5: possession of a firearm after having been previously convicted of seven crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Count 4 of the indictment charges an offense punishable under federal law by death or up to life imprisonment. Under federal law, the Attorney General of the United States will make the decision whether the United States will seek the death penalty. The decision will be made only after the Attorney General completes a thorough review of the facts and law. The United States Attorney emphasized that no decision has yet been made by the Attorney General whether the United States will seek the death penalty in this case. A decision from the Attorney General is not expected for several months.
Count 1 of the Indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Count 2 of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Count 3 of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years, which must be imposed consecutively to any prison term imposed for the underlying crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. Count 5 of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
The United States Attorney cautioned that the charges in the indictment are accusations only and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty after trial.
The charges in the indictment stem from an armed robbery by two men of approximately 50 pounds of marijuana and a vehicle from two other individuals at a South Burlington hotel in December 2002. The indictment charges Aletras with this armed robbery. The other participant in the robbery was Kevin Arkeneau. As alleged in the indictment, Aletras and Arkeneau traveled from the New York City area to Vermont to commit the robbery. Arkeneau was found dead in a hotel room in Saratoga Springs, New York the following day. He was shot twice in head at close range. Count 4 of the indictment charges Aletras with killing Arkeneau.
Aletras is currently in federal prison serving a 19 year sentence after being convicted of an unrelated firearms charge in the Southern District of New York. As set forth in Count 5 of the Indictment, he also has felony convictions for burglary (four convictions), grand larceny and possession of stolen property (two convictions).
An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.
This case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Saratoga Police Department, the New York State Police, and the South Burlington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Darrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The United States Attorney's Office will have no further information or comment on this Indictment at this time.
